The French Children's Books Everyone Should Read

Then it's time to give some other French classics a try. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's beloved story sails into theaters and onto Netflix tomorrow, take a look at these French books—picked by Flore Pouquet of the French Embassy's bookshop, Albertine—that deserve to go on the big screen next.

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For a Heartwarming Family Tale

For a Heartwarming Family Tale

"This is an unforgettable novel for teenagers that adults will appreciate, too," says Flore Pouquet, Albertine intern, and children's literature aficionado. "Three orphans with completely different personalities try to be adopted by a half-brother overwhelmed with the situation. It's a book about family links, generosity, and courage, told with a great dose of humor and humanity."

"Oh, Boy!" by Marie-Aude Murail, $9, albertine.com. Available in French.

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For a Dark Fantasy Story

For a Dark Fantasy Story

"De Fombelle is absolutely brilliant at creating new worlds and immersing the reader in them. Tobie lives in a tree but was forced to live in the low branches, where conditions are hard—but, many adventures await him there. This is a beautifully written novel that raises awareness about ecology and the human condition."

"Tobie Lolness" by Timothée de Fombelle, $31, albertine.com; "Tobie Alone" by Timothée de Fombelle, $15, amazon.com. Available in French and English.

For a Heartwarming Family Tale

"This is an unforgettable novel for teenagers that adults will appreciate, too," says Flore Pouquet, Albertine intern, and children's literature aficionado. "Three orphans with completely different personalities try to be adopted by a half-brother overwhelmed with the situation. It's a book about family links, generosity, and courage, told with a great dose of humor and humanity."

"Oh, Boy!" by Marie-Aude Murail, $9, albertine.com. Available in French.

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For a Dark Fantasy Story

"De Fombelle is absolutely brilliant at creating new worlds and immersing the reader in them. Tobie lives in a tree but was forced to live in the low branches, where conditions are hard—but, many adventures await him there. This is a beautifully written novel that raises awareness about ecology and the human condition."

"Tobie Lolness" by Timothée de Fombelle, $31, albertine.com; "Tobie Alone" by Timothée de Fombelle, $15, amazon.com. Available in French and English.

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For a Hearty Dose of YA Silliness

"It all started with the election of Mireille, Hakima, and Astrid as the 'dog faces' of the year by their schoolmates on social media—but Mireille refuses to let this spoil her summer! To strike back, the young girl convinces her two girlfriends to join her on a bike trip to Paris, where they plan to be invited to the Elysée Palace on Bastille Day. Les Petites Reines deals with serious subjects like self-acceptance and the dangers of social media, with much humor and humanity."

For an Enlightening Read

"This is about the life of a 15-year-old girl named Doria, who lives in the outskirts of Paris with her mother after her dad abandons them and returns to Morocco to remarry. This book does not give a romantic depiction of Paris, but instead shows the strong and authentic voice of a teenage girl who faces difficulties like racism, school problems, and her mother's illiteracy, with both anger and humor."

For a Dystopian Adventure Fix

"Ewilan is from a parallel world where she must save her people by fighting evil forces. Bottero managed to create a very coherent imaginary world in which fun and appealing characters coexist by mixing suspense and humor. Ewilan's quest is also a quest for identity, friendship and love—the book series is highly addictive!"

For a Riff on a Fairy Tale

"This is a revised and modernized version of the famous tale Little Thumb by Charles Perrault, in which the youngest child of a very poor family tells his six brothers to flee the house after he overhears his parents saying that they are going to kill them. Then, he begins a long adventure towards the ocean narrated by both the six other brothers and the different characters who they meet along the way. This book is filled with poetic writing and tells a story that is rooted in both fantasy and harsh reality."

"L'Enfant Ocean" by Jean-Claude Mourlevat, $6, albertine.com; "The Pull of the Ocean" by Jean-Claude Mourlevat, $22, amazon.com. Available in French and English.

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For a Cheeky Mystery

"Fourteen-year-old Auguste and his smart, autistic little sister, Césarine, find themselves in the midst of an age-old conflict. They are forced to join a secret society—the Confrerie—whose goal is to prevent the Autodafeurs [a villainous underground group] from taking control of the world's knowledge (particularly in the form of books). This is a very well-written and highly addictive adventure in several volumes, with authentic and funny characters."

"Las Autodafeurs" by Marine Carteron, $17, albertine.com. Available in French.

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For an Underdog Story

"This graphic novel tells the daily adventures of a young donkey and his relatives (all portrayed in the form of different animals). Kids can easily recognize themselves in Ariol, a sensitive and shy boy who is in love with his schoolmate, Petula, and aspires to become a hero like those he sees on TV."

"Ariol" by Emmanuel Guibert and Marc Boutavant, $14, albertine.com; "Ariol" by Emmanuel Guibert and Marc Boutavant, $12, amazon.com. Available in French and English.